Makeover for Kurla terminus
The Railways Plan To Transform The Station Into A Swanky Hub For
Long-Distance Travel
Devraj Dasgupta | TNN
Mumbai: The Mumbai division of Central Railway has cleared the designs for a
swanky station complex to replace the dilapidated Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at
Kurla. The new Kurla terminus will become a hub for long distance trains for
the next two decades.
The new station complex design, prepared by architect P K Das, not only
envisages a sleek building but also aims at giving the congested area a lush
look with gardens on all sides. The plan, which has been sanctioned by
Mumbai division officials, is now being studied by CR’s construction
department to fine-tune it.
Senior division officials expect the construction to start by March next
year. The construction budget itself is estimated to be about Rs 16 to 20
crore at present costs.
As of now, the terminus is woefully short of facilities and wears a
shabby look. Although several CR trains now start or terminate here,
infrastructure-in terms of waiting and ticketing facilities, refreshment
outlets, transport services, etc-is not in keeping with passenger
requirements.
P K Singh, additional divisional railway manager (ADRM) of CR, Mumbai,
said discussions have been held with government agencies to build good
approach roads to the new terminus building.
“The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has agreed
to construct a ramp from the station to the flyover to be built nearby as
part of the Santa Cruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR). While one ramp will lead to
the station, the other one will go down to Nehru nagar in Kurla,” he
informed.
The new station complex will also offer four thoroughfares (lanes) for
vehicles that come to drop or pick up passengers. The lanes will be covered
with a canopy measuring 150 metres by 50 metres.
The station building will have a glass facade and three entrances. On
entering the main hall, passengers will find 11 ticket booking counters on
either side. The ground floor of the building will have railway operations
and administrative offices on one side.
On the other side, the building will have spacious waiting rooms for
air-condition (AC) and sleeper class passengers.
At the centre of the ground floor, there will be stalls housing a cyber
cafe, police station, chemist and other shops. The first floor of the
building will have dormitories providing all modern amenities. The building
will also include a spacious food court and restaurants on the first floor.
Singh said CR is also trying to push for construction of subways from
the vehicular thoroughfare outside to the platforms.
“There should be minimum congestion in the building’s main hall.
Passengers boarding from platforms 2 to 5 can use the subway,” he said. But
the subway cost is yet to be sanctioned by the railway board, New Delhi, he
added.
Cost: Rs 16-20cr Work begins: March ’07